Upholsterer&#39;s tension device for repairing cushions



L. F. MEYER July 24, 1956 UPHOLSTERER'S TENSION DEVICE FOR REPAIRING CUSHIONS Filed April 20, 1955 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR) United States Patent() UPHOLSTERERS TENSION DEVICE FOR REPAIRING CUSHIONS Louis E. Meyer, Tucson, Application April 20, 1955, Serial No. 502,699

6 Claims. (Cl. 45-138) This invention relates to Upholsterers cushion tensioning bars and has special reference to tensioning bars for holding the closing seam parts of a cushion for tension while the final sewing is performed.

In the formation of cushions for chair seats, davenports and other similar loose cushions, the fabric forming the exterior of the cushion has all of its connecting edges, except one, sewn by machinery. This results in the formation of a box or bag ready for filling. At one edge of this box or bag there are two fabric edges that are left unsewn so as to enable the filling of the cushion to be inserted at this place. After the filling is completed, these two edges are then sewed together to finish the cushion. At the time of filling the cushion these edges, which are to receive the final sewing, are loose with respect to each other, and it is difficult to properly sew the edges unless they are held under tension so that they are properly held in contact.

One important object of the invention is to provide novel stretching means whereby that part of the cushion to receive the final sewing is widely stretched, thus bringing the two edges close together.

A second important object of the invention is to provide tensioning bars which may be adjusted to any width of cushion.

A third important object of the invention is to provide means on special tension bars to enable the bars to be readily connected to and disconnected from the cushion.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts, in the several views, and:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a cushion with a pair of these tension bars in position to stretch the cushion material for final sewing of the filling opening.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary prospective showing the final result when the above opening has been sewed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a pair of the tension bars.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation from the top side of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4.

As here shown the invention consists of a pair of like bars which may be made of any suitable material such as metal, plastic or, perhaps, hard wood. Each of these bars is of flat rectangular cross-section. Each bar is indicated at 10 and each bar is provided along its length with a series of spaced openings 11 so that a pin 12 may be passed through the selected openings in the bar in order that the entire device may be adjustable for length and also in order that the bars are mutually pivotal on the pin.

At one end of each bar there is provided a sharp fabric engaging, pin 13 adapted to pierce the fabric or other covering of a cushion seat. Each bar has a special stop member limiting the pivotal motion of the bar on-the pin. One of these bars has on the end remote from the pin 13 an L-shaped metal bar 14 fi'xed to the side of' the respective bar 10 and having a flanged portion which, when the bars are alined, extends under the edge of the other bar 10, as clearly shown in. Fig. 9. The other of these bars 10 has a metal clip which, in this case, is of U' shape as at 15. One side of the .U-shaped clip. is secured to the bar 10 and the clip has a spring side 16 engageable with the companion bar 10, as shown in Fig. 6.

In using the device it will be seen, by reference to Fig. 1, that the covering material of the cushion is normally loose at the edges 17 of the top and one end of the cushion. Without the tensioning these edges, it is difiicult to properly sew them together, but this can be accomplished by inserting the pins 13 through the top and sides of the cushion near the edges 17 (Fig. l), and then pressing on the bars 10 until they are brought into alinement with edge 17 stretched to lie close together. Ordinarily upholsterers pins 18 (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1) may then be used to maintain the edges in the stretched position so that they may be sewn as indicated at 19 in Fig. 2. The bars 10 are left on until the cushion is sewed.

By reason of the length of pin 12 there is enough side movement allowed to let the bent end of L-clip 14 to go fully under the other bar to lock in place underneath.

It has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified. It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention and it is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form shown and herein described, but it is wished to include all that properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in the manufacture of upholstery an upholsterers cushion seam tensioning device comprising a pair of rigid bars pivotally connected between their ends, said bars diverging from the pivot to extend to the sides of a cushion, said end portions having pins projecting longitudinally from the bars for engagement on the sides of a cushion, said bars being movable on the pivot into and out of alined positions.

2. For use in the manufacture of upholstery an upholsterers cushion seam tensioning device comprising a pair of rigid bars pivotally connected between their ends, said bars diverging from the pivot to extend to the sides of a cushion, said end portions having pins projecting longitudinally from the bars for engagement on the sides of a cushion, said bars being movable on the pivot into and out of alined positions, and said bars having clamps at the ends remote from the pins adapted to hold the bars in alined position.

3. For use in the manufacture of upholstery an upholsterers cushion seam tensioning device comprising a pair of rigid bars pivotally connected between their ends, said bars diverging from the pivot to extend to the sides of a cushion, said end portions having pins projecting longitudinally from the bars for engagement on the sides of a cushion, said bars being movable on the pivot into and out of alined positions, said bars each having a longitudinally spaced series of pin receiving openings, and a pin selectively engageable in said openings and shiftably constituting the pivot between said bars when so engaged.

4. For use in the manufacture of upholstery an upholsterers cushion seam tensioning device comprising a pair of rigid bars pivotally connected between their ends, said bars diverging from the pivot to extend to the sides of a cushion, said end portions having pins projecting longitudinally from the bars for engagement on the sides of a cushion, said bars being movable on the pivot into and out of alined positions, said bars each having a longitudinally spaced series of pin receiving openings, and a pin selectively engageable in said openings and shiftably constituting the pivot between said bars when so engaged, said bars having clamps at the ends remote from the pins I and adapted to hold the bars in alined position.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination, of a pair of engaging bars, each bar provided with openings, a pin extending through registering openings of said bars, a U-shape clip on one bar near one of its ends, an L-shape clip on the other bar near one of its ends, and each bar provided with a pin on one end.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination,

. 4 i of a pair of similarly constructed bars, each bar provided with alined apertures, a pin loosely mounted in registering apertures of said bars, each bar provided with a pin on one end, one of said bars provided with an inverted U-shaped clip fixedly secured to its side, an L-shape clip fixedly secured to one side of the other bar, and the lower part of said L-shape clip-being adapted to fit underneath both bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,516,320 Human July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,970 Germany Mar. 17, 1930 

